microscope

mi·cro·scope

1. An optical instrument that uses a lens or a combination of lenses to produce magnified images of small objects, especially of objects too small to be seen by the unaided eye.

2. An instrument, such as an electron microscope, that uses electronic or other processes to magnify objects.

[Italian microscopio or New Latin mīcroscopium (Italian, from New Latin); see Microscopium.]

microscope

(ˈmaɪkrəˌskəʊp)

n

1. (General Physics) an optical instrument that uses a lens or combination of lenses to produce a magnified image of a small, close object. Modern optical microscopes have magnifications of about 1500 to 2000. See also simple microscope, compound microscope, ultramicroscope

2. (General Physics) any instrument, such as the electron microscope, for producing a magnified visual image of a small object

mi•cro•scope

(ˈmaɪ krəˌskoʊp)

n.

1. an optical instrument having a magnifying lens or a combination of lenses for inspecting objects too small to be seen distinctly by the unaided eye.

2. any of various high-powered magnifying devices, as the electron microscope.

mi·cro·scope

(mī′krə-skōp′)

An instrument used to magnify objects that are hard to see or invisible to the naked eye. Optical microscopes consist of a lens or combination of lenses. Others, such as the electron microscope, use other means of magnification, such as beams of electrons.

camera lucida - an optical device consisting of an attachment that enables an observer to view simultaneously the image and a drawing surface for sketching it

electron microscope - a microscope that is similar in purpose to a light microscope but achieves much greater resolving power by using a parallel beam of electrons to illuminate the object instead of a beam of light

light microscope - microscope consisting of an optical instrument that magnifies the image of an object

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